Gaming-related crimes in Macau increased 113.1 percent in the first half of 2023, according to data released by the city’s Secretary of Security last week.
As reported by Macau Business, officials attribute the increase to the recovery of the city’s gaming industry since borders reopened on January 8. The figure is still down 56.4 percent compared to the first half of 2019.
From January through June, 8,124 people were identified as having taken part in illegal money-exchange businesses. That’s an increase of 198.1 percent compared to last year. But travel restrictions were still in place at that time.
“While there has been a slight increase in the involvement of local residents in gaming-related crimes,” the newspaper account stated, “the overall magnitude of such incidents remains insignificant. This suggests that there are currently no indications of localized gaming-related crimes posing a significant threat within the region.”
Meanwhile, officials say they are committed to preventing gambling-related crimes while promoting the prudent growth of the gaming industry.
In related news, according to GGRAsia, Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak told local media that officials are considering criminalizing unauthorized money-exchange activity in Macau’s casinos.
He said the activity has “long been affecting security conditions inside casinos and the areas surrounding them” and leads to other crimes such as “scams, illegal detainment of individuals, assaults and even murders.”
Currently, the activity falls under the city’s financial regulatory framework and is not considered a crime. Wong said the city’s Judiciary Police “hope that illicit money-exchanges… related to… gambling purposes could be criminalized.
“Alternatively, if they are not to be criminalized, we would assess how the fines can be enhanced to a very hefty level” for the purpose of “deterring such acts, coupled with measures such as enforcing an immigration ban on the offenders.”
He said most of the unauthorized money-changers are residents of Mainland China who enter Macau on tourist visas.
